How Is Butter Made?

“We’re going to make some butter…
Rich and creamy, too!”

I remember the first time I made butter at Shelburne Farms.  I was surprised and amazed at how simple the process was!  All you need is some heavy cream, a jar, a song, and some friends!  Check out the video to learn how:  

How does it work? Is it magic?

Whether you're shaking a jar or churning an old fashioned butter churn, it all works the same way. As you agitate the fat in the milk cream, the fat membranes break open, and the sticky fat will start to clump together into a ball of butter. The milk left behind is called buttermilk (but this buttermilk is a skim milk rather than the cultured buttermilk that you would find in the grocery store). 

How to make maple vanilla whipped cream:

Before shaking, add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to your heavy cream. You can adjust as needed according to your sweet tooth. Watch closely as you shake and when the cream thickens and sticks to the inside of the jar - you’ll have a tasty whipped cream topping. Careful though, if you shake for too long then your whipped cream will turn into butter!

Buttermaking Song 

Chorus:

Shake it, shake it, shake it

Shake it all you can

Shake it like a milkshake

And pass it to a friend!

Verses:

We’re going to make some butter

Rich and creamy, too

With milk from a cow’s udder

Before you can say moo

Put some cream into a jar

Bring a friend or two

Make sure the lid’s on tightly 

That’s all you have to do 

We’re learning while we’re churning

Hey this is lots of fun

It’s easy to make butter

Let’s eat it when it’s done

Oh, listen very carefully

It’s sounding different now

Hooray! It’s finally butter

Be sure to thank a cow!